Nursery World - New research reveals the financial impact of Covid on early years settings

Nurseries were losing more than a thousand pounds a week in parent fees due to the pandemic last December, according to research commissioned by the DfE.

According to the survey on the impact of Covid on early years settings, all providers received less money in parental fees than expected last year

At the same time, they were having to find extra money to cover staff absences and pay for additional cleaning products and PPE.

The latest Department for Education Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers and Coronavirus (SCEYP COVID) reveals that providers received less than expected in parent-paid fees, with group-based providers being the hardest hit.

During the time of the survey, 27 November-20 December 2020 (described as wave 3), group-based providers (GBPS) who responded reported losing an average of £1,176 a week in fees. They were also the provider were more likely to report a reduction in the number of operating hours.

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